Early enlisted in the Royal Irish Regiment c. 17 August 1914, shortly after the outbreak of the war, suggesting that he was a former soldier and/or a Special Reservist. He signed up with his friend Joseph Kelly who was with the Leinster Regiment. A Longford Leader article (below) suggests that he enlisted with the by-then disbanded 18th Royal Irish Regiment (18th Battalion (Royal Irish) Regiment of Foot), so this is likely to have been an error and was possibly the 1st.

Parents Names:

Unknown

Notes:

Possibly Patrick Early, South Wales Borderers that died in 1915? http://longfordatwar.ie/soldiers/127